THIS is part of the striking £100million vision for Burnley's historic Weavers’ Triangle in an image seen for the first time.

Council leaders and developers hope that their ‘On The Banks’ masterplan will create a fresh buzz around the imposing facades of the mill complex.

The former cotton heartland is already going to be home to East Lancashire’s university technical college, which is set to open in August this year, a new HQ for the Prince’s Trust and a landmark wishbone-shaped bridge.

The Lancashire Telegraph can also reveal that discussions are understood to be under way to construct a live music venue, seating up to 3,000 people, on the banks of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Further ventures pencilled in for On The Banks, unveiled by the council’s development partners Barnfield, include a multiplex cinema, a food village on Sandygate Square and prestigious offices along Slater’s Terrace and the site of the former Waterloo Hotel.

Prince Charles has championed the redevelopment of the area and even brought The Queen and Prince Philip to tour Weavers’ Triangle last year.

Borough council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said: “The new On The Banks brand was designed to attract businesses and visitors from across the region to this unique area at the heart of Burnley.

“We are very excited about the works underway to transform this area and think that Barnfield have developed a cutting edge brand.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “It is fantastic that an area which was dying is now being brought back to life.

“The government invested £9million, through the Regional Growth Fund, into the university technical college, which is helping to regenerate these mills and bring growth to the town.”

Proposals have also been drawn up for a parade of boutique shops, along Sandygate itself, leading to Queens Lancashire Way, with an education centre envisaged for land at the bottom of the hill.

Tim Webber, Barnfield Construction chairman, said: “The last couple of years have seen spectacular progress in and around Burnley and On the Banks is a key part of this progress.

“While some towns and cities have been seeking to simply halt decline, Burnley has embarked on an ambitious programme that is reconnecting us with the commercial heart of the region.”

The project will be given extra impetus when Burnley Manchester Road railway station is rebuilt and the Todmorden Curve, offering speedier journeys to Manchester, is completed.

Borough officials have received £1.5million from the European Regional Development Fund to support improvement to the Sandygate and Trafalgar Street gateway into the On The Banks site.

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